Are y'all just some seriously lateral-thinking motherfuckers or what? I actually refuse to believe that anyone actually agrees with Greg so much as they like his theory and WANT it to be true. Which it clearly isn't, because it doesn't make any sense whatsoever. And the argument that Ralph probably doesn't know what a Viking actually is seems pretty silly to me, even taking his potential learning disabilities into account. I think Hh is right, and the operative word in Ralph's statement is clearly "where." Ralph is not smart enough to understand what sleep actually is, and thus thinks it's a place.

I in fact think that this entire thread is a conspiracy on the parts of Greg, Crystal, and Freddy to confuse and bewilder the rest of the board. I mean, I know y'all like to think outside the bun and all, but this is ridiculous.

I've only gist-read all this, but I think Ralph just dreams about being a Viking, and the incongruity of his awkward, feeble physicality with this burly, heroic alterego is the nub of the intended jocularity.

Logged

Seest thou what happens, Laurence, when thou firk’st a stranger ‘twixt the buttocks?!

Honestly, Greg's explanation was the only one I ever considered. I never took it to mean anything other than that, and never imagined that it really could many anything other than that. It seems like if the intention was to refer to some recurring fantasy of Ralph's wherein he is a viking, it would have been expounded upon further, mayhap through a short dream sequence or some other reference--you know how the Simpsons writers love running gags. But no: it was a throwaway line intended only to demonstrate that Ralph Wiggum is good for little more beyond sleeping. He is good at sleeping. This explanation makes loads more sense to me because the alternative is just a non sequitur that's never referenced again.

It seems like if the intention was to refer to some recurring fantasy of Ralph's wherein he is a viking, it would have been expounded upon further, mayhap through a short dream sequence or some other reference--you know how the Simpsons writers love running gags.

I'd say this'd happen if Ralph were Homer, in which case we'd be treated to a thought bubble with Homer dressed as Bugs Bunny as Brunnhilde; often we'll get a peek into Homer's thoughts in such a way. With Ralph, this has never been the case. We've never seen Mittens. We've never seen him as a principal or a caterpillar, which is apparently what he wants to be when he grows up.

The only other way something like this would happen would be if this had been uttered within the past four seasons, which would have been a result of Family Guy influence. Lately, it's true, The Simpsons has indulged in such throwaway visual gags, but not so much prior to the arrival and cult success of Family Guy. So much of the best Simpsons jokes derive from verbal humor (although I will always laugh at what happens to Maggie's eyes when she has a taste of coffee ice cream).

Okay, seriously dudes, Ralph is happy that he gets to take a nap because when he goes to sleep, he has dreams about being a Viking. Come on! How does Viking=being a champion at something? I'm sorry to say this, because Greg Nog is a cool dude and totally should hang out with me before I move away from New York at the end of the summer, but he is so wrong and Jeb and everyone else who agrees with Jeb is so right.

We can all agree Ralph is a simple man, of simple tastes, yes? So the simplest expanation is most likely.

Given that his attempt at simile comes out literal (My cat's breath...), we conclude that, even if he had the concept of metaphor, the attempt would come out literal as well. And the most literal interpretation is that sleep is where he is literally a Nordic pillager.

Note that this doesn't require that he have an understanding of the nature of dreams. We know it's a recurring dream, but he needn't, and likely doesn't. From Ralph's perspective, dreams are when he closes his eyes and he becomes a Viking. The beauty is that it fits with our image of the boy: simple, literal, stupid.

As such, if Ralph were headed in the Nog-direction, saying "Viking" would require a burst of creativity we know to be beyond his means. Rather, he'd simply say he was "really good at stuff," "the Champion," or "Captain Sleepy."

I'll kiss the first person who comes up with the Latin for, "I sleep, therefore I pillage," so Ralph can take his rightful place alongside Descartes and Spinoza.

This is probably a stupid question, but I just thought - has anyone checked the commentary track on the DVD for any insight on this? I mean, it's probably unlikely that they would comment on that particular line, but still, you never know.

It seems like if the intention was to refer to some recurring fantasy of Ralph's wherein he is a viking, it would have been expounded upon further, mayhap through a short dream sequence or some other reference--you know how the Simpsons writers love running gags.

I'd say this'd happen if Ralph were Homer, in which case we'd be treated to a thought bubble with Homer dressed as Bugs Bunny as Brunnhilde; often we'll get a peek into Homer's thoughts in such a way. With Ralph, this has never been the case. We've never seen Mittens. We've never seen him as a principal or a caterpillar, which is apparently what he wants to be when he grows up.

The only other way something like this would happen would be if this had been uttered within the past four seasons, which would have been a result of Family Guy influence. Lately, it's true, The Simpsons has indulged in such throwaway visual gags, but not so much prior to the arrival and cult success of Family Guy. So much of the best Simpsons jokes derive from verbal humor (although I will always laugh at what happens to Maggie's eyes when she has a taste of coffee ice cream).

It seems like if the intention was to refer to some recurring fantasy of Ralph's wherein he is a viking, it would have been expounded upon further, mayhap through a short dream sequence or some other reference--you know how the Simpsons writers love running gags.

I'd say this'd happen if Ralph were Homer, in which case we'd be treated to a thought bubble with Homer dressed as Bugs Bunny as Brunnhilde; often we'll get a peek into Homer's thoughts in such a way. With Ralph, this has never been the case. We've never seen Mittens. We've never seen him as a principal or a caterpillar, which is apparently what he wants to be when he grows up.

The only other way something like this would happen would be if this had been uttered within the past four seasons, which would have been a result of Family Guy influence. Lately, it's true, The Simpsons has indulged in such throwaway visual gags, but not so much prior to the arrival and cult success of Family Guy. So much of the best Simpsons jokes derive from verbal humor (although I will always laugh at what happens to Maggie's eyes when she has a taste of coffee ice cream).

Ok, 1). I missed you guys, I love you guys, and this is very much the best thread ever. Ever. E-V-E-R.

2). But how in the hell did this become one of the few threads to have made it so far without becoming horribly, horribly derailed? I'm very surprised that not a single soul has yet mentioned Freddy's genitalia.

So, I did some elementary research on the DVD while the board was down, and I am absolutely appalled to report that if the foreign translations are anything to go by, Mr. Nog and other "lateral-thinking motherfuckers" may be right.